189 A.D. 90 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1919
The record of the case is long and the accounts intricate and complicated, chiefly for three reasons: First, the power granted the executrix to" continue the business; second, the provision of the decree appealed from, which vacates a final decree made by the surrogate’s predecessor in office, dated April 11, 1907, settling the accounts of the executrix; and, third, the basing of the accounts on the vacated decree. We shall confine ourselves to stating the conclusion at which we have arrived on the points presented to our consideration by the appellant, with a brief statement of the reason therefor. The accounts as filed admitted a balance of assets for distribution of $3,513.99. The decree charged the appellant with a balance of $107,219.56. The appellant claims that the decree was erroneous in the following respects:
A. The payment to J. A. Solomon should have
been allowed........................... $1,827 93
B. The executrix should not have been charged
with the uncollected debts due the business. 10,715 44
C. She should have been credited
with loss in the business after
October 24, 1908............. $4,400 00
Less profits.................... 1,726 47
2,673 53
*92 D. She should not have been charged
with the sum of.............. $2,598 80
allowed N. Bernstein,
and with....................... 5,342 36
- $7,941 16
allowed to L. Bernstein on the sale of the business.
E. She should have been allowed for the mainte-
nance of the infants.................... 45,993 71
F. The interest item charged against her,
amounting to $33,032.16, should be modified as required by any allowance which may be made.
We will consider the claims separately:
A. The respondents admit that the payment of $1,827.93 should be allowed.
B. The executrix having been .authorized by the will to continue the business, had, at the time the accounts were filed, uncollected debts amounting to $10,715.44. .
The surrogate held that the executrix was acting within the scope of the power conferred on her by the will in continuing the business up to a certain time. He then charged her with the uncollected debts of the business without any inquiry whether they were collectible or whether any of them were lost through her fault or negligence. In our opinion the same rule does not apply to the debts incurred by an executor in running a business under the authority of the will as to debts due the testator. Merchants do not go to the expense of reducing all claims to judgment. As the executrix was running a commercial business, she was required to exercise such a degree of care in realizing on the accounts due as is exercised by the ordinarily prudent business man. The question is whether the claims were lost through the negligence of the executrix. As she has all the information she should furnish the evidence.. To that extent she has the burden of proof; but she has been held responsible for these uncollected debts, practically as an insurer, without any inquiry whatever as to whether they or any of them were lost through her fault or negligence.
Where an'appeal from a surrogate’s decree is taken upon
C. The surrogate has charged the executrix with loss in the business, incurred since October 24, 1908, amounting to $2,673.53. The decision is based on a finding by the referee that in continuing to carry on the business beyond a certain date the executrix “ failed to exercise that amount of care, prudence and intelligence that persons of ordinary care, prudence and intelligence would exercise in the management of their own affairs.” A consideration of the evidence shows a situation where there was a serious question whether the business should be kept running pending a sale. The executrix had tried to sell the business. She received an offer that was approved by the surrogate, but the sale fell through on account of delays, and the order recites that the delays were caused by the contestant. The executrix continued the business in a limited way, hoping for a sale. She had to judge the situation as she saw it. The referee judged after the fact. She was acting within the scope of her power as conferred by the will. She was authorized to continue the business “ as long as they deem it for the best interest
D. We think the surrogate was right in refusing to credit the executrix with the* allowance made by her to her two brothers, N. and L. Bernstein in the sale of her business to them.
E. The executrix claimed an allowance of $45,993.71 for the support and education of the infants. This was disallowed as not sufficiently proved. Under the express trust created in the will the executrix had the right, and it was her duty, to devote the income to the support, education and maintenance of the children during their minority. It appears that she has supported, educated and maintained them, but has been allowed nothing therefor. This is unjust. She claims that this large sum was income paid over to herself as guardian, for which she is entitled to credit, being accountable in her capacity as guardian only. But this claim was not supported by the evidence and it was rightfully rejected. Her right to use the estate for the infants is confined to the income, and it becomes necessary, therefore, to determine what the income is. The respondents in their brief compute the net income up to the date of the last account at $23,025.46. There is an error in their calculation, due to deducting from the gross income Schedules C and D, whereas a portion only of said schedules was allowed by the surrogate. Correcting the statement accordingly, we have the sum of $33,547.53. Moreover, the respondents rightfully contend that the sums drawn from the business as shown in the last statement of income while the business was losing money, is not income. This amounts to $4,726.47. Deducting this, we have as net income
Earl, J., in Beardsley v. Hotchkiss (96 N. Y. 201, 219), says: “ There is no doubt of the power of an equity court to make to a father a reasonable allowance for the past and future support of his minor children, out of their property, in his hands, or in the hands of their trustees.” In Matter of Kane (2 Barb. Ch. 375) Chancellor Walworth held that in a proper case an allowance might be made to a father for past support of minor children out of the estate.
We think that this is a case where the principle so enunciated may be applied and a proper allowance made to the mother for her past expenses in the support of the infant children in her care, out of the income of a trust estate which by the will was devoted to their support, education and maintenance. We have before us the history of the transactions from the beginning, the record of the accounts filed by the appellant, not only as executrix but as guardian, and voluminous testimony, and we see no reason why an end cannot be made to this long-drawn-out controversy by determining what is a just allowance to be made to the applicant for her expenses in the support and education of the child and three stepchildren who were minors at the time the account was filed. On the settlement of the accounts of the appellant as guardian of Elizabeth, such an allowance was made by agreement and $500 a year was allowed for board and care. In consideration of all the evidence, we think a just and reasonable allowance for the support, education and maintenance of the four infants would be $15,000, and we, therefore, make such allowance.
The accounts should be modified by deducting from the amount chargeable to appellant:
B. Amount uncollected accounts.............. 7,464 46
C. Loss in business after October 4, 1908...... 2,983 73
E. Allowance from income................... 15,000 00
The executrix has already accounted as guardian
of Elizabeth............................... 4,031 80
Total deduction...................... $31,307 92
Interest on said amounts from November 4, 1910, to June 29, 1916, at six per cent, was charged against the executrix on the whole balance, including the above amounts. Interest on the allowance for the same time and at the same
rate should be computed................... 10,618 60
The executrix has been charged interest on a sum which she has paid to Elizabeth. This is error. It is unimportant as the decree was drawn, but as modified it will introduce error
if not corrected........................... 5,378 14
Making a total allowance of.............. $47,304 66
The decree should be modified in accordance with the opinion, and as modified affirmed, without costs.
Jenks, P. J., Putnam, Kelly and Jay cox, JJ., concurred.
Decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Kings county modified in accordance with opinion, and as modified affirmed, without costs. Order to be settled before Mr. Justice Blackmar.